At a glance

Your chance to

At a glance

8 nights standard hotels, all en suite

Travel by private bus

Boat trip on the Irrawaddy River

3 internal flights

The best of Burma's colonial architecture and numerous temples

A short trip that covers the most fabled sights including the temples of Bagan, the former capital of Mandalay, Inle Lake with its famous leg-rowing fishermen and Rangoon (Yangon) famous for its skyline of golden spires. We also take time to cruise on the Irrawaddy River and watch the sun rise at U-Bein Bridge whilst mingling with the welcoming people. Experience this incredible country before mass tourism arrives.

Itinerary

Show detailed itinerary

1Day 1Start Rangoon (Yangon), visit Shwedagon Pagoda for sunset.

After checking in to our hotel there will be a group meeting late afternoon. After this we will explore the dilapidated colonial edifices and busy side streets on our city tour. Downtown Rangoon with its unpaved streets lined with old wooden shuttered houses, medicine shops, temples and the more colourful markets offers plenty of photographic opportunities. Close by is the famous Shwe Bontha area, perhaps the most photogenic of all streets in the city, with its leafy sidewalks, pavement tea-shops and magnificent colonial buildings. In the evening we will eat in one of Rangoon's many restaurants.

2Day 2Fly to Bagan (Pagan) with its ancient temples and pagodas; free time to explore until sunset visit.

This morning we leave early for our short flight to the ancient wonder of Bagan (Pagan). There are over 4000 temples and pagodas in many shapes and sizes to explore amongst the 25 square miles of brick that compare to the Angkor Kingdom of Cambodia, Chichen Itza and Machu Picchu as one of the world's most spectacular archaeological sites. This is where Buddhism, Hinduism and Nat worship come together in an array of different shrines. There is free time to explore the area by bike (optional) or on foot before this evening's visit to Sulamani Temple and the most famous of the sunset temples, Shwesandaw Paya with its panoramic views of Bagan.See more images and videos

3Day 3Full day tour to explore the largest temples as well as some of the smaller ones.

A full day spent exploring the temple complex spreading out as far as the horizon with its brick stupas that dot the skyline in many shapes and forms. Building here commenced following the introduction of Theravada Buddhism by the kings of the region in the mid-11th century. A string of kings followed suit here erecting temples to worship their gods. Ananda Pahto with its bejeweled umbrella (hti), Dhammayangyi pahto and Shwezigon Paya are the largest and most impressive sights we will visit along with some smaller hidden gems well away from the main tourist route. There will be plenty of opportunities to climb and delve deeper into the fascinating history. A truly magical experience and a photographer's paradise.

Today we depart for Mandalay using the express boat between Bagan and Mandalay. This is used by local passengers enabling us to interact with them and take in village life either side of the river. We should arrive in Mandalay late afternoon/ early evening.See more images and videos

An early start as we head out to one of Burma's most iconic sights - U-Bein Bridge, built in 1849 by Mayor U Bein. This teak bridge spans over a kilometre and is best seen at sunrise when villagers cross it to begin their journey to work and the fishermen prepare for a day on the water. This is one of the most photogenic sights of the country and not to be missed. We then drive back to the hotel for breakfast before heading down to the port area where we board our boat for a cruise on the Irrawaddy River. We'll explore the pretty riverside village of Mingun home to one of the world's largest bells (weighing in at 90 tons) and the Hsinbyume Paya with its whitewashed terraces and staircases. From here we board our boat and cruise downriver to the township of Sagaing - known as a meditation centre for monks and nuns who wish to escape city life. Here we will find many stupas on its famous Sagaing Hill with leafy pathways leading to caves and shrines. Sagaing also boasts a monastic hospital and the International Buddhist University. We board our boat and take the scenic ride back to Mandalay.See more images and videos

6Day 6Fly to Heho and transfer on to Inle Lake.

Another short flight takes us to Heho, gateway to the impressive Inle Lake. Our drive (approx 2 hours) traverses undulating hills and dense farmlands. We should arrive at the village of Nayaung-shwe at the north end of Inle Lake early afternoon. The rest of the day is free to explore the town including Mingla Market (selling mainly local produce) and other stupas and monasteries dotted around the town.See more images and videos

7Day 7Cruise on Inle Lake; visit local craft industries and floating markets, Inthein pagodas and see the famous leg-rowing fishermen.

An optional early dawn start will usually provide the opportunity to witness saffron-robed monks receiving alms before breakfast. After breakfast we have a day on the lake visiting cottage industries, floating markets (if possible), monasteries, temples and small villages. We will see the famous leg-rowing fishermen casting their nets in the lake - this technique of standing up holding a long paddle in one hand and their leg wrapped around the paddle lower down leaves the fishermen free to cast their conical fishing nets. This unique style evolved because the lake is covered by reeds and floating plants making it difficult to see above them while sitting.
There is a five day cycle for the floating market which literally circles the lake; here the locals come to sell their traditional wares early in the morning and return to their village for the afternoon. Please note the current location of the market will dictate what we will be able to visit. However there will be plenty of shopping opportunities amongst the markets and craft industries. We will also visit Indein on the western banks of the lake, this intricate pagoda complex has hundreds of Shan style stupas clustered together on the hillside. Following years of decline, and with the forest reclaiming the site walking amongst these hauntingly beautiful ruins has a very Indiana Jones feel and is great photographic opportunity.

We fly back to Rangoon, where the remainder of the day is free for last minute sightseeing or shopping. The huge Bogyoke Market is worth a visit with food, clothing and handicrafts all on sale (closed on Mondays and public holidays). Late afternoon we will head to Lake Kandawgyi to view the Karaweik replica of the Royal Barge, before ascending to Shwedagon Pagoda. It is 2,500 years old and the most religious site in Burma that is said to contain eight hairs of the Buddha as well as 5500 diamonds and other precious stones. As the golden stupa glitters overlooking the city, life goes on in the busy streets below.See more images and videos

Your images

Adult Group

This is a small group adult holiday. The group is usually between 4 and 16 in size, with an average of 12 like-minded clients booking individually, in a couple or as friends together.

Activity level

You are healthy, enjoy the outdoors and want a relaxing trip. No experience is required.

What's included

What's included

8 breakfasts

All accommodation (see below)

All transport and listed activities

Tour leader throughout

Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

What's not included

Travel insurance

Single accommodation - GBP330

Accommodation details

Hotels

You will spend 8 nights in standard hotels with en-suite rooms. Due to the recent increase in tourism in Burma hotels are struggling to meet demand, making prices rise. The standard of hotels can vary and overall is not in line with hotel standards in neighbouring countries. Mosquito nets are not always provided.

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa
Nearly all nationalities require a visa to enter Myanmar (Burma), and this must be obtained prior to departure. Passengers without a visa will not be allowed to enter the country.
For further information see http://www.exodus.co.uk/assets/travelink/Burma.pdf
For nationalities where there is no Burmese embassy please contact the Exodus office for assistance.
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements for this trip.
Recommended vaccinations for this trip are: Polio, Tetanus,Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Yellow Fever.
Malaria prophylaxis is strongly advised, and we suggest that you seek advice from your GP or travel health clinic about which malaria tablets to take.
Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited on this trip. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Holiday style

You will find a country with a colonial past but that has changed very little and is still very new to tourism. Thus the infrastructure is fairly underdeveloped for touristic purposes. Whilst travelling in the more remote or less developed regions patience may be required as the service in hotels and restaurants will be slower than what you may be used to in other countries.
This holiday is designed so that you can see the best parts of Burma in 11 days. There is a lot to see and some of the distances covered are large!. In addition there will be lots of early morning starts. Internal flights are used to maximise your time in the key destinations, whilst minimising hours spent on the notoriously bumpy local roads. On most travel days the average travelling time is between 2 to 3 hours. For a longer trip see our two week trip, Discover Burma trip code AON, which also visits Kalaw, a former colonial British hill station and spends longer at Inle Lake and Bagan.
There is no global mobile phone coverage in Burma so your phone will not work. Internet access is widely available in Rangoon and is gradually becoming more available in most places. Howver the connection can be intermittent and slow. Accomodation standards can vary. Because of the recent surge in people visiting Burma certain areas are experiencing a shortage of hotels. This has increased the price of hotels and overall the standard should not be compared with hotels in neighbouring south east Asian countries such as Vietnam and Cambodia.
Please note you will be requred to remove footwear and socks before entering temples in Burma. This will mean ascending and descending lots of steps barefoot.

Eating & drinking

Burma's food is a diverse blend of Chinese, Indian and South East Asian influences, with many regional variations of their 'standard' dishes. Rice is at the core of most Burmese food, and although vegetarian food is available the choice of dishes will be limited. Curries are very common as are noodles and soup. In the bigger hotels and cities and at Inle Lake some Western food is available. Vegetarians are well catered for but you should inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. Please note that in Burma the availability of certain specialised products for restricted diets, e.g. gluten-free or dairy-free, is minimal or non-existent and we strongly recommend you bring these specialised dietary items from home.
Service in restaurants can be slow as food is freshly prepared. As a group we recommend you consider selecting up to 3 or 4 types of dishes amongst the group to minimise the preparation time.

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want to know about this trip, including
detailed itinerary and full kit list

Weather & seasonality

Burma has a monsoon climate with three main seasons. The hottest period is between February and May, with little or no rain. The rainy season exists from May to October and dry, cooler weather from October to February. Inle Lake can get cold at night from October to February with temperatures dropping down to around 0.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

My first group trip so wan't sure what to expect. The experience surpassed expectations for a number of reasons - principally 1. the mixture of fellow travelers, all interesting and genuinely friendly and positive people; 2. the excitement and rewards of getting to know the culture, history and sights (geography) and last but not least, a tour guide who deserves a travel award in his own right (see below!)

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

More a comment on what I enjoyed - mostly the two days on the water - Irrawaddy boat trip and Inle Lake day. Both mind expanding.

What did you think of your group leader?

An amazing person. Cannot praise him enough. Joseph was professional, knowledgeable, incredibly well organised (everything happened exactly on time, travels and transfers were seamless); nothing ruffled him; he had a great sense of humour; he was talking from the heart and head, not from a script; and he was always on hand when needed.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Be prepared for very early starts. This is not a holiday in the taking it easy sense of the word, but the early starts were more than rewarding.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Just to reiterate that in Joseph you have a jewel of a tour guide representing you!

I totally loved this country and the people, its one of the best countries that I have visited!! Loads of culture, temples, sun sets &amp; rises to see &amp; plenty of places to explore.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

There where far too many to mention as each day was incredibly different, interesting, fun and educational. I would definitely put this country in my top 5 favourites. I did the 11 day trip, so much was fitted in with not a minute to waste.

What did you think of your group leader?

Moe Moe the group leader was fantastic, really caring, kind and considerate. We had a great group and also a mixed group, I felt that she managed to treat everyone in the group as individuals meeting each person’s needs effectively. Moe Moe was very knowledge about the country, always providing relevant information.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

If you have time do a longer trip or even spend extra time in Yangon before or after a trip, this country has so much to offer, it is very unspoilt in places and full of culture. However if you only have 11 days then still do it!! The train journey around Yangon is very interesting, it takes 3 hours and is a great way to either start or end your trip.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I think that you have to be reasonably fit to get the most out of this trip. There are lots of early starts to see sun rises but completely worth it. I havn’t been on many organised trip as I normally travel independent but after doing this would certainly consider doing a organised tour as I was impressed with the itinerary and organisation of the trip.
In my opinion the weather (early January) was great, this was a concern of myn prior to going as I thought that it may be too hot but no problem at all, perfect in fact.

A gap year that turned into several years of travelling throughout the world was when Emma first got her taste for trekking; firstly in Nepal on the Annapurna Circuit, but then across the Indian Himalaya, Africa and The Middle East. Nowadays, though based in the London office, Emma tries to get away on an annual trek. Every new route is a unique and always a fantastic experience!

Questions about your trip

Pick your question

Do I need a special visa for Burma?

Nearly all nationalities require a visa to enter Burma (Myanmar), and this must be obtained prior to departure. It is now possible to obtain a visa upon arrival however we strongly recommend against this as the authorities have been known to close this service with no advance notice. For further information see http://www.exodus.co.uk/assets/travelink/Burma.pdf

Should I travel to Burma?

Following the National League for Democracy (NLD), Aung San Suu Kyi's political party, announcement that the full boycott of tourism to Burma should be lifted we are now advocating a return to Burma.The decision to return has not been taken lightly, we have talked with various organisations and taken guidance from the Burma Campaign UK, the Free Burma campaign and Tourism Concern, all of whom havealso decided to lift their call for a full tourism boycott to the country. Although it is impossible to entirely avoid the government controlled infrastructure, we endeavour to use locally owned, private services.

Nick Nikolsky - Product Manager

What vaccinations do you advise for South East Asia?

Unfortunately we are not qualified to answer all your questions in regards to travel health, so we strongly recommend you contact your GP or a Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks prior to departure for up-to-date information.Nomad Travel Clinics are experts in preparing people for travel, providing advice on vaccinations, anti-malarial and staying healthy whilst overseas. We have arranged a special 10% discount for Exodus passengers on any vaccinations that you may require! Take along your Nomad discount card, sent with your confirmation pack, or call Exodus for your special discount code.Visit www.nomadtravel.co.uk/exodus for further information.

What's the standard of accommodation like in SE Asia?

The hotels are of a very good standard, roughly comparable to a 2/3 star standard with air conditioning, spacious rooms and centrally located. Because certain areas have only opened up to tourism relatively recently, in the past 15 years or so, most of the hotels are newly built but in a traditional style. More remote areas can also have slightly more basic facilitiers, but these are usually more than compensated for by the location.

Brendan Phelan - Customer Operations

How much do you spend on food in SE Asia?

On average, a lunch should cost no more than £3 and dinner up to £10 including drinks. The standard and quality of the restaurants is very good while still retaining a traditional ambience. In the more remote locations, it's amazing how the local people can prepare such delicious meals!

Diane Knight - Sales

Burma Country Guide

For information on travelling through Burma, and it's recent history, see here.

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